The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, is currently seeking to recruit a candidate to the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy and School of Resource Wisdom for the position of

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (Tenure Track) in SUSTAINABILITY TRANSITION

The employment relationship starts on 1st September 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter. The position of the Assistant Professor is for a fixed term of three to five years (according to the tenure track model). At the end of the fixed-term assignment, there will be an evaluation procedure to assess the employee's qualifications for promotion to the next level (Associate Professor, and later as full Professor).

Tasks and qualifications

The position is located at the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy. The Assistant Professor is required to conduct scientific research that supports the research of the Department in its focus area of Sustainable Societies and in the multidisciplinary and cross-faculty School of Resource Wisdom.

The Assistant Professor is expected to focus on sustainability studies in social sciences or in a relevant multidisciplinary field. The Assistant Professor is expected to have expertise in theoretical, empirical and/or methodological research on the relationship between nature and society, including, for example, environmental justice, just transition policies, and the politics of planetary well-being.

The duties of the Assistant Professor include conducting research, acquiring external research funding to implement research projects, and taking part in developing and teaching under- and post-graduate level discipline specific and multidisciplinary cross-faculty courses in sustainability transition studies and supervising theses at bachelor, master, and doctoral levels. The Assistant Professor is also expected to integrate in the development of cross-faculty research, teaching and societal impact activities of the School of Resource Wisdom.

The qualification required for the position is a doctoral degree in a relevant field. Candidates are to have a promising track record of conducting and publishing high-quality, internationally recognized scientific research, strong methodological or conceptual competence, success in acquiring research funding, experience in managing research projects or involvement in research projects, working in a multidisciplinary research environment, and experience in supervising and teaching students. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required.

Please see a more detailed description of the tenure track model, requirements, and selection/promotion criteria: The general requirements for appointing an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor (tenure track), Tenure track at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The qualification requirements should be met before the closing time of this call.

Please note that candidates for the position of the Assistant Professor must have completed a doctoral degree within the last nine years. Special circumstances (e.g., maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave and childcare leave, military service / non-military service, or long-term illness) may extend the nine-year rule as appropriate.

The University of Jyväskylä is committed to fairness, consistency, and transparency in selection decisions, and undertakes the recommendations for the responsible evaluation of a researcher in Finland.

In the core of the strategy of the University of Jyväskylä entitled “Wisdom and wellbeing for all” is the vision that we are one of the world's leading research universities in the study of learning, wellbeing and basic natural phenomena, reshaping competence to build a sustainable society. You are expected to help us to fulfill this vision.

What does the University of Jyväskylä offer as an employer?

The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centered environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and wellbeing for all. JYU's naturally beautiful campus is located in the heart of the city of Jyväskylä.

The University will support new Assistant Professors in forming a research group and implementing the research plan. New Assistant Professors are eligible to apply for Rector's starting grant. Assistant professors are provided support through mentoring.

The salary of the Assistant Professor is based on the position demand level and the employee’s personal performance, in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The annual salary of an Assistant Professor is 46 000 – 57 000 EUR (gross income, including holiday bonus), depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate. A trial period of six months will be used in the beginning of the employment.

In addition to the welcoming research community, we offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Finland provides one of the most advanced and comprehensive social security in the world. It includes, for example, sickness benefits, various family benefits and a comprehensive healthcare system. Please read more about working at the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland.

A competent and prosperous scientific community

At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a respected member of the university community. You get the opportunity to learn from your colleagues and meet high-level researchers from the full spectrum of science and humanities. Here the barriers between disciplines are low, and we encourage our employees to cross them in their daily work. We offer you a meaningful career where you can make a real impact in your field and society.

You will become part of our international and multidisciplinary community where the well-being of everyone, human and nonhuman, is important. We provide a good setting for a mobile and healthy lifestyle on and around campus. Jyväskylä region offers an excellent balance between ambitious work and a chance to relax after work, with beautiful nature and various sport and cultural activities within close distance from home and work.

Take a closer look at our workplace by watching this video about the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

How to apply

Please attach the following PDF documents to the online application in English:

1. Curriculum vitae, including a personal ORCID ID and composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (maximum 2 pages).

2. A numbered list of all scientific and other publications with which you wish to demonstrate your competence and merit for the position (please see the guidance by the Academy of Finland).

3. A maximum of five (5) most relevant publications for the position, numbered in accordance with the list of publications.

4. Research statement (2-4 pages describing research merits, including external funding, and future plans).

5. Teaching statement (2-4 pages describing pedagogical training and teaching merits; please see the guidance by the University of Jyväskylä).

6. Societal impact statement including your future development plans (1 page).


Please submit your application at the latest on March 28th, 2023 (23:59 EEST) by using the online application form.

For further information, please contact the Dean of The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Professor Jari Ojala jari.ojala@jyu.fi, +358400247387, or the Head of the School of Resource Wisdom, Professor Janne Kotiaho, janne.kotiaho@jyu.fi, +358505946881.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is a strong contributor to human and social sciences. It has a central role in understanding and developing human activities and the structures of society. The faculty is a unique, strongly profiled unit that conducts internationally significant research with societal impact. Research and education at the faculty focus on culture, arts, traditions, languages and communication, social sciences and philosophy.

The School of Resource Wisdom is an open and transdisciplinary academic community whose mission is to advance cross-faculty research and education of sustainability transition and planetary well-being. Importantly, Wisdom takes seriously the interaction with the society and aspires to advance and advocate evidence based societal decision making with the goal of reducing existential risks for the diversity of life and of promoting the simultaneous human and nonhuman well-being.